T-Rex is a documentary that attempts to be a
drama. Shot from the perspective of a
paleontologist's 15 year old daughter, this 3-D
presentation executes a three objective lesson plan:
1) Introduce two notable contributors to the field:
Barnum Brown and Charles Knight, 2) Establish the
concept of "theory" in the field of paleontology, 3)
Show off some dazzling 3-D Dinosaur models.

All of these objectives are realized,
unfortunately they don't add up to a very
entertaining Large Format experience.

Though the film attempts to represent elements
related to the study of paleontology in a factual
manner ... an artifact suspected to be a dinosaur
egg is left on the edge of a cluttered desk -
simply so it can be conveniently knocked over
later. This implausibility wasn't even necessary; a
much more interesting scenario would have had the
curious girl purposely open the artifact "box" in
which the egg surely should have been placed.

Though the girl's performance approaches
average ... as the central character, it needed to
be stellar.

But the single largest problem was all the
talking. People go to see Large Format pictures
because the screen is over six stories tall. We're
not interested in watching two people converse -
especially not over the phone. Additionally, while
these story line elements may work as a 45 minute
piece to be played on VHS in the classroom - they
won't satisfy customers paying $8.50 to see huge
dinosaurs growl in 3-D (which ultimately comprises
no more than 5 minutes of this production).
Besides, this is film - Show!!! Don't tell.

As for what the film does well. The T-Rex computer
graphic isn't bad, but I loved the two floating
smaller saurouses from the Charles Knight painting.
Not just scientific, but beautiful & artistic and
perfect to shoot in 3-D. Additionally, the last shot
of the baby-Rex hatching from the egg is crisp, gooey
and alive! Lastly, the 3-D is very tight - no double
image problems. (Though, people did seem rather small
in relationship to the background.) Also, we get to
see digging sites from the air and ground. That's
worth 1000 conversations.

Plot in short, paleontologist's daughter high on
dinosaur egg fumes, meanders through a museum
flashing back to the Cretaceous period.